Lhochhar...
The biggest festival of Tamang community Sonam Lochhar was celebrated in several areas of the country, including Kathmandu valley, organizing a variety of cultural programs. It is being observed with exchanging good wishes and warm greetings among friends, family, relatives while feasting and dancing. Due to influences of different culturally rooted society, the varieties of methods are made in practice for celebrating it.
The slugging of innocent animals and making joys on their blood just still are practicing. It is celebrated for creating love, harmony and affections to every living creature of nature.
The meaning of ‘Lho’ is year and ‘Chhaar’ is new. Thus, Lhochhar means New Year. Altogether 12 Lho in Tamang calendar are mentioned. Every Lho is named after birds or animals such as mouse, ox, tiger, cat/rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and pig. Lho changes every year and rotates in series of scheduled regularity as Jiwa(mouse), lang(ox), tak(tiger), hyoi(rabbit), duk(dragon), dul(snake), taa(horse), luk(sheep), te(monkey), chya/jya(bird), khi(dog), fak(pig). The rotations when reached for completions, the scheduled regularity again with same process will occur. So, the child will be called for same Lho they are born in, that is, if this year began already for Jiwa(mouse) Lho, he/she will be of same Lho.
The festival even is same but the differences are still there on its celebration. Chhemar Dukhchhe, special prasad given firstly to every individuals or guest invited. It is made, carried out with three different mixture processes, Karsum, Ngaarsum and Sersum. “karsum” is made with different white colored materials like curd, milk etc. “Ngaarsum” is prepared with water made washed up with materials like iron, gold, silver, copper etc. “Sersum” is made up of mixture of Honey, ghee etc. And the prepared Karsum, ngaarsum and Sersum are now mixed with flour wheat or rice and the prepared edible “chhemar dukhchhe”. The Lhochhar commonly are scheduled for five days.
The day first: In front of every house, Darjyu(flexible cotton of width-length of 1”X5”) is set vertically hook up on long bamboo and set at yard.
The day second: The dish called Guthuk, made up of nice green grains is prepared. To this day, even anger should be said to be suppressed. So, family environment is to be created.
The day third: The relatives are called for the joined feast ceremony. They beautify themselves with mostly beautiful dresses they have. Love and care are shared.
The day forth: Aashirbad(blessings) are received from elderly persons. Blessings are given for the peace and prosperity for the coming New Year.
The day fifth: The daughter and daughter in law are invited for the joined party. Lots of shares and care are made for this day.
The time Lhochhar is being celebrated in Nepal are firstly introduced with celebration of 2831th Khi(dog) Lho, by Nepal Tamang Ghedung(NTG) and ran a cultural rally to show culturally its importance. Nepal Government recognized the greatest festival of indigenous Tamang community Lochhar as a national festival and declared it a national holiday. The Tamang people appreciated the government’s decision to grant a national holiday for celebration of their main festival, Lhochhar.
0 comments
हामि सल्लाह, सुझावको आशा राख्दछु !